True Marriage After Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
Even with the man’s apology, Jae Hyuk’s expression remained unrelenting.
“Don’t you dare think that a simple ‘sorry’ after killing someone will make everything go away. I believe people must pay for the sins they’ve committed.”
“…Please, I beg you.”
Ah Rin, who had been watching the scene unfold, felt as if she couldn’t breathe. Her vision blurred, her stomach churned, and each breath grew heavier.
‘I can’t pass out.’
Once again, vasovagal syncope threatened to overwhelm her.
Please…
Staggering, Ah Rin barely managed to steady herself against the wall.
‘Deep breath… I need to take a deep breath. Haa… Haa…’
While Ah Rin struggled to regain control, Jae Beom looked down at the man with icy indifference.
“Your first apology should be to my wife.”
Jae Hyuk deliberately stressed the word “wife.”
The man bowed his head to the floor once more and stammered,
“N-no, I didn’t mean that. I—I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry, Madam.”
Ah Rin looked down at the man.
‘He wouldn’t be acting this way if my brother weren’t here.’
Indeed, before Jae Hyuk arrived, the man had been arrogantly defiant and rude—so much so that his current meekness was unimaginable.
Watching this same man, who had been so haughty and dismissive toward her when she was powerless, now cowering like a lamb before Jae Hyuk stirred conflicting emotions within her.
‘If I stay like this any longer, I’ll pass out again.’
The entire situation was overwhelming stress for her.
Voices from the crowd, which had stopped moments ago, now drifted from right beside the pillar—and soon faded into the distance.
‘Good…’
Perhaps her tension eased, realizing she hadn’t been noticed.
Ah Rin sank down onto the floor with a thud.
Hearing the sound, Jae Hyuk turned his head. After checking her expression, he quickly approached her side.
“Breatce. It’s okay.”
A large hand gently patted her back.
“Yes. Slowly. Breathe in… breathe out.”
At that moment, thinking Jae Hyuk had completely lost interest in him, the man bolted away as fast as his legs could carry him.
“Slowly now—in and out. Good. You’re doing well.”
Following his guidance, Ah Rin found it gradually easier to breathe.
“Phew…”
“Good job. Just like that—nice and slow.”
Her pounding heartbeat began to calm, and her breathing no longer felt strained.
Only then did Ah Rin notice Jae Hyuk’s worried gaze fixed on her. Strangely, it made her feel unsettled—
A burning, desperate warmth surged through her chest.
“…Thank you.”
Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
“Can you stand? Don’t push yourself.”
His low, deep voice sounded above her. A moment later, a large hand extended before her face.
“It might feel awkward, but it’s better if you hold on and get up.”
After a brief silence, Ah Rin placed her small hand into his. He gently helped her to her feet.
His firm, muscular arm steadied her body.
Ah Rin’s heart fluttered.
“Do you want to go back? Or…”
“I want to watch the wedding.”
“Alright, then we’ll go together.”
“…N-no, I can go by myself.”
Jae Hyuk shook his head firmly.
“What if something happens? Besides, you’re still shaking right now. I won’t do anything—just stay by your side.”
‘Maybe it’s okay for just a little while. My brother’s right—it’s scary to be alone right now.’
Her weakened resolve left a crack for vulnerability to slip through.
“…Okay.”
Thankfully,
as they walked toward the wedding venue, he kept a respectful distance.
‘Otherwise, he’d surely hear my heart racing wildly—and think I’m strange.’
The subtle blend of his natural scent and white musk kept unsettling her mind.
Ah Rin stole a glance up at Jae Hyuk.
His tightly closed thin lips, straight nose, and sharply chiseled jawline stirred something deep within her chest.
She was grateful he stayed silent—she feared that if they spoke, he might uncover feelings even she couldn’t understand herself.
‘I hope he just stays quiet like this.’
Not long ago, she had despised Jae Hyuk so deeply, yet after he rescued her in this crisis, her heart felt fragile and soft.
While Ah Rin was thinking about Jae Hyuk, his mind was also filled entirely with thoughts of her.
Why had Ah Rin been there alone?
Why had that man shown up right in front of her?
‘Where the hell was Manager Seo? Leaving her alone like this—it’s dangerous.’
Jae Hyuk clenched his teeth, recalling the earlier scene.
When he saw Choi Sung Han gripping her wrist and threatening her, he thought he’d lose his mind.
He had scanned the area around Ah Rin as he ran over, but Ji Yoon—who usually guarded Ah Rin like a fierce dog snarling at anyone who approached—was nowhere to be found.
After a long silence, Jae Hyuk finally broke it.
“Wasn’t Manager Seo with you?”
“Ah… She said something came up at the office. Did you not hear about it?”
“Hear what?”
Jae Hyuk stopped walking and looked down at her.
“…She said there was a problem with today’s PR team event. The items that were supposed to arrive didn’t show up, so Ji Yoon went early this morning to handle it.”
Ah Rin assumed that although Jae Hyuk led the VAN Group, he wouldn’t instantly know about every departmental issue, so she calmly explained the situation.
Listening quietly, Jae Hyuk finally spoke.
“You mean the Gangnam Station event?”
“…I don’t know the exact location.”
“Either way, she should’ve waited. No matter what, why did you come here alone? If you had to come, you should’ve waited until there were other people around. What if something happened?”
‘How could I have known this would happen?’
All she’d thought about was avoiding Jae Hyuk at the wedding.
She never imagined something like this would occur.
Even though she knew he didn’t mean it that way, Ah Rin’s mood sank.
Noticing her expression darken suddenly—though a beat too late—Jae Hyuk hurried to speak.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I just…”
But instead of lifting her spirits, his apology only plunged Ah Rin deeper into despair.
‘Why is he angry?’
Why was he acting like this?
An overwhelming wave of emotion surged from deep within her chest.
“It’s not like I did it on purpose—why are you mad at me?”
Ah Rin bit her lower lip hard, trying to hold back tears—but they spilled over anyway.
Was it because of the traumatic incident just moments ago? Or because she felt hurt?
Or maybe… she didn’t even understand herself.
Once her tears started, they wouldn’t stop.
“Ah Rin…”
He hadn’t meant to scold her. He was just angry—because if he hadn’t shown up, he could vividly imagine the worst that might have happened to her.
‘You idiot, Ban Jae Hyuk.’
Jae Hyuk quickly reached out to wipe her tears—but she refused his touch.
His hand hovered helplessly in midair, nowhere to go.
“I just… the thought that you might have suffered something terrible—just imagining it drives me crazy. That’s why…”
‘Why are you so utterly inconsiderate?’
In business, Jae Hyuk never tolerated even the smallest mistake. From birth, he’d never known failure.
Naturally, he’d never once considered himself lacking in any way. People called him the perfect man—flawless in every regard.
Yet in front of Ah Rin, he was always incomplete and clumsy.
‘Nothing’s changed. You’re still the same, Ban Jae Hyuk.’
Jae Hyuk ground his teeth, frustrated by his own inadequacy. He never meant to hurt her—and yet again, he’d ended up doing exactly that.
He felt like he’d do anything, anything at all, just to stop her tears…
“You’re really too much. Seriously.”
“…”
“I really hate you. I hate you so much.”
Watching her sob uncontrollably, his heart shattered.
‘You’re right, Ah Rin. I am a terrible person.’
Even if his intentions had been for her sake, in the end, it was really about fulfilling his own feelings.
What she needed wasn’t an analysis of why things happened—but comfort for her wounded heart.
Because in this situation, the one truly suffering and terrified wasn’t him—it was her.
He should have held her and told her everything would be okay first.
“You must’ve been so scared.”
When she cried, he wanted to cry too. When she smiled, his own smile came effortlessly.
Right now… he wanted to cry.
“I’m sorry. I never meant to blame you.”
He’d been selfish and foolish.
“Hic…”
A wave of helplessness washed over him—no words seemed capable of soothing her heart.
Feeling even more distant from her, Jae Hyuk bitterly resented his past self.
He grasped Ah Rin’s shoulders, desperately hoping she wouldn’t push his hands away this time…
Thankfully, she didn’t brush him off.
“I’m sorry.”
Overwhelmed, Jae Hyuk bowed his head deeply.
Though his words came out clumsy—he didn’t know how to properly express himself—he desperately hoped his sincerity would reach her… and opened his mouth.
“It was my fault.”
“…”
Surprised by his words, Ah Rin looked up.
‘Fault…?’
His head was lowered, so she couldn’t see his face.
‘Is my brother really…?’
His broad shoulders trembled faintly. A choked voice echoed in her ears.
Ah Rin felt she understood—even without seeing his face.
“I’m sorry. Truly.”
She didn’t know what he was thinking.
But the regret in his voice was genuine.
“I’m sorry… for not holding your heart close.”
My heart?
Did he mean right now—or the past?
His words sent ripples through Ah Rin’s soul.
He leaned slightly closer. His warm breath brushed her ear. Ah Rin knew what he would do next.
‘If you’re going to push him away, it has to be now. Now…’
But her body wouldn’t move.
Before she could decide, he pulled her into his arms.
‘You can still pull away—even now.’
Thump thump. His heart raced—faster and louder, perhaps even more than hers.
With clumsy, hesitant motions, he slowly stroked her back.
‘It’s too late. It’s already too late…’
She needed to speak—but her lips wouldn’t part.
His awkward, uncertain touch conveyed his sincere desire to comfort her so clearly.
‘Idiot. Fool. You absolute moron.’
Ah Rin couldn’t bring herself to push away the warmth enveloping her.
Confused by her own contradictory actions, she squeezed her eyes shut, pretending not to notice.
[This is the timeline separator]After all the turmoil, Ah Rin finally entered the wedding hall with Jae Hyuk.
From the moment they stepped inside together, she felt people’s eyes on them. Even as the ceremony proceeded, their blatant stares and whispered gossip wouldn’t stop.
She wanted to capture Yu Jung’s joyful moment—but the constant weight of those watching made her uneasy.
Ah Rin forced herself to ignore everyone around her and focused only on Yu Jung.
Soon after, watching Yu Jung bow to her parents and cry brought a lump to Ah Rin’s throat.
Though they weren’t blood sisters, seeing her get married made Ah Rin’s emotions swell—and her eyes sting.
‘Sister…’
When Yu Jung cried, Ah Rin found tears streaming down her own cheeks without realizing it.
Just as quickly as the thought passed, a familiar-scented handkerchief appeared before her face. He said,
“I wanted to wipe your tears myself, but you’d probably hate that—so just take it.”
Ah Rin’s large eyes trembled as she looked at the handkerchief. The embroidered initials and pattern were deeply familiar.
V.J.H
It was the handkerchief she’d once given to Jae Hyuk.
She’d assumed he’d thrown it away—but now it was right here in front of her.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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